Hey guys, it's been a while since I've been around here. I kind of went through a lull where I haven't done any archery. Some elbow problems slowed me down, then I picked up other hobbies for a while. But, I've dragged out my longbow again, and started flinging some arrows in the back yard.

Anyway, my wife and daughter are both getting interested, and I want to encourage them all I can. So, I'm looking at getting a bow for them to try. I'm just going to start with one bow for them. If it looks like both of them will stay interested, I'll pick up a second one.

I was thinking I'd pick up a relatively inexpensive takedown recurve with a light set of limbs. Then, if either of them continues, I'll eventually get heavier limbs.  I'm thinking something like a Samick Sage, but I thought I'd ask you guys if there are better options. About $200 is the max I want to spend initially.

If you look at the big auction sites, you will find used, good-quality bows like a Bear Polar in weights like 30 pounds for less than $200. This is an option that I would recommend -- bows that are easy to shoot well for very affordable prices.

My 2 cents worth.

Black Hunter from China I believe. Less then $200 and a great bow, you will look far to find a better bow. Hitman Archery and Twig Archery sells them.

They'll be more likely to stay interested if they aren't overbowed.  A 25# takedown recurve is a good choice.  It doesn't have to shoot like a dog.  PSE Razorback 1000 spine carbon arrows are light weight and economical and will zip right along out of a 25# bow.  Samick doesn't make the Sage anymore in a takedown recurve, but 3 Rivers has the Edge takedown recurve for about $160, which appears to be about the same thing.

Check out the St. JUDES auction #1.
Black Rhino bow, arrows, and case.
29# @ 28".

I would be mindful of the bow's actual weight and not just the draw weight. Ladies tend to lack upper body strength and can tire trying to hold a bow that has some weight to it.      Takedowns tend to have a little more weight to them. My wife has shot 40 lb plus draw weight bows for 20 years but hates bows that weigh a little more.  My daughter grew up shooting and echoed the same thoughts.

This probably doesn't help much but I bought a light weight Old Mountain Edge off of xxBay in 2018 when I was looking for an inexpensive bow to work my shoulders back into shape.  They were selling them brand new for $80 shipped.  The bow is every bit as nice as the Samick Sage but the grip is smaller (tighter throat).  I swapped the limbs off the Edge with my wife's Sage and we both had perfect bows.  The limb fit was identical. 

I started my wife out on an old Bear Cub recurve and then a Shakespeare Yukon one-piece, but that bow was not nearly as smooth to shoot as the Sage.  I happen to like old bows but for my wife, the newer bows just fit better and had a smoother draw curve.  With FastFlight strings and light arrows as McDave said, the low poundage new bows will zip an arrow just fine.

Are they dominant in the same eye?

Thanks, everyone. I've been looking into some of these Samick clones. It seems like every company is selling one. I haven't decided on the exact "brand" yet, but I like 3rivers, so I'll probably go with the "Edge" they sell now.

You may wish to consider a Black Hunter...

My shooting and hunting partner,, who has actually won the world in the traditional bowhunter class has a stable of hi end bows. He is hunting with a Black Hunter.

All three of my daughter, now all adults, and my wife all decided in time that they wanted to shoot with me with their own bow  and I learned a lot about how that interaction is filled with surprising priorities. In addition to getting a good draw weight and a comfortable grip, it seems that some ladies are as particular about having a pretty bow as many of the guys on here, others are just shooting machines, regardless of how a bow looks. After working through many possible contenders, they are shooting a 1962 Howatt Ventura, a 1962 Browning Diana, a 1962 Browning Apollo and a 1962 Corky Johnson Custom Shawnee.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Quote from: Friend on May 26, 2020, 09:00:02 PM



He is hunting with a Black Hunter.

Just ordered one of these, with the longbow limbs. The reviews were all stellar, for a sub $200 bow. It seemed like the best choice as far as versatility, economy, and shootability. Limbs (both longbow and recurve fit the same riser) are readily available if I need to change anything. Hell, if neither my wife or daughter stick with it, I might buy some limbs for myself.

Test

Perfect choice.